Metro Manila, Philippines – House Majority Floor Leader Sandro Marcos has revealed conditions allegedly set by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s camp in exchange for supporting his father, then-presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in the 2022 elections — a claim the Palace has apparently confirmed.
In an interview with PRTV over the weekend, the Ilocos Norte representative recalled that when his father sought the Duterte camp support at the time, they were asked to go to Malacañang to meet with the former president.
Instead, they were met by three people, whom Marcos did not name. He said one of them, a sitting official, laid down specific demands.
“Sinabi niya kay pangulo (then presidential candidate Marcos) na sige suportahan ka namin on the condition that kami yung mamimili ng executive secretary, kami mamimili ng speaker kami mamimili ng Senate president, kami mamimili ng secretary… basta marami silang hiningi,” Rep. Marcos said.
[Translation: He told the president (then-presidential candidate Marcos), ‘Okay, we will support you on the condition that we will choose the executive secretary, we will choose the speaker, we will choose the Senate president, we will choose the secretary… they asked for many things.]
Marcos said he had anticipated that the so-called UniTeam alliance between his father and then-running mate, Vice President Sara Duterte, would eventually fall apart because of a power struggle
Asked about the presidential son’s claims, Palace press officer Claire Castro said she had discussed the matter with the president.
“Ang sabi lamang sa akin ay he has raised his kids well and his son, Cong. Sandro will not lie. ‘Yun lang po ang ibinigay na mensahe ng pangulo,” Castro said.
[Translation: The only thing he told me was that he has raised his children well, and his son, Congressman Sandro, will not lie. That was the only message given by the president.]
Castro added that the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) viewed the alleged arrangement as an attempt to control the [resident and eventually oust him.
“That’s the opinion of PCO, not the president’s,” she said.
The Duterte camp has yet to respond to the claims.
